A Changing Landscape in Somerset

Somerset is a county of striking contrasts, with a diverse landscape of rolling hills, wetlands, coastal plains, cliffs, clay valleys, heathland and forests. Around 66% of the land is farmed, and it boasts the highest number of farmers and food producers of any county in the UK. Yet, like much of the country, it is increasingly feeling the effects of climate change. With 18% of the county below average tide level, both communities and farmers face growing risks from rising sea levels and more intense, frequent storm events, evidenced by major flooding incidents in 2014, 2023 and early 2026.

The Green family have been custodians of the beautiful 730-acre Chesterblade Hills farm, on the edge of the Mendip Hills, for at least seven generations. When I visited on a spring day in 2026, Ed pointed out a magnificent oak tree that he believes was just a sapling when his ancestors first took on the land. Over its lifetime, the tree has witnessed profound changes, but perhaps none as significant as those under Ed’s stewardship.

Ed’s childhood was deeply rooted in farm life. Under the guidance of his family, he developed a strong work ethic and an early sense of responsibility for the land. He recalls his grandfather setting him up in a tractor as a young boy, leaving him contentedly harrowing and mowing fields. Yet alongside this connection to the farm was a curiosity about the wider world beyond its boundaries.

At 18, Ed left to study Sociology at the University of Leeds. As the first in his family to go to university, it was a significant step. Surrounded by fellow students from very different backgrounds—many of whom had travelled widely—Ed found the transition challenging. The experience proved to be a culture shock, and after a year, he made the decision to return home to the farm. In 1996, Ed helped transition the farm from milking 100 cows to building a new greenfield site dairy unit and increasing the herd to 300 cows, while trying to understand who he was and what kind of life he wanted to lead.

During this time, Ed spent a lot of time with his family, shaping much of his thoughtful, measured and innovative outlook on life. He describes his grandfather as an entrepreneur, his mother as a progressive freethinker, and his father as relaxed and deeply content with the farming way of life. They encouraged his curiosity and at 30, Ed completed a degree in Economics through the Open University, with a dissertation focused on beef and chicken production.

From Dairy to Beef—and Growing Questions

His studies, combined with the mounting pressures of dairy farming, led him to sell the dairy herd in 2004. In the years that followed, he transitioned into beef, eventually building a herd of 1,200 cattle under a Waitrose contract. Alongside this, Ed continued to explore wider agricultural systems and questions around the future of food. In 2012, he was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship, researching how beef production might adapt to changing global demand and shifting food cultures.

The scholarship proved to be a turning point. It gave Ed the opportunity to travel extensively, encounter new perspectives, and reflect on his own farming practices. He went on to contribute to industry bodies including AHDB National Beef & Lamb Board, the NFU National Beef and Sheep Board, and later served as Chairman of Meat South West in 2018—all while continuing to manage the farm.

Yet over time, it became clear that the shift from dairy to beef would not resolve all the challenges Ed faced. As bovine tuberculosis (bTB) spread across farms in the South West, Ed found himself dealing with repeated testing – no small undertaking with 1,200 cattle. At the same time, he was becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and climate impacts of livestock farming and the gradual shift in consumer preferences away from regular meat consumption. One day, a newspaper headline – ‘Stop Eating Beef to Save the Planet’ – prompted Ed to question what society wanted from the food system, the wider impacts of his land use, and whether the farm might offer greater value without livestock.

Rethinking Farming

Six years on, the land has been reimagined. Roughly a third of the farm is dedicated to calcareous grassland, copse and scrub conservation; another third to herbal leys; and the remaining third to cropping under regenerative principles. The entire holding is now supported through a combination of environmental schemes, including the Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier scheme, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, the England Woodland Creation Offer, and the Woodland Carbon Code. In addition, 70 acres have been allocated for Biodiversity Net Gain.

Ed’s approach to reforestation centres on “nucleation” – creating naturalistic clumps of trees that encourage wider regeneration. More than 5,000 trees have been planted across the farm. He works closely with Forest Research, the research agency of the Forestry Commission, who have set up research plots across the farm to monitor progress. Today, Chesterblade Hills is England’s largest natural colonisation site. To monitor and survey these habitats, expert animal and plant species groups visit the farm to record the changes that are happening. Over 200 species of plants have been recorded so far with new insects, amphibians, birds and mammals arriving on the farm.

Water management has also been a major focus. In recent years, 40 new ponds have been created across the farm, which lies in the upper catchment of the River Brue. These features play an important role in reducing downstream flood risk in the Somerset Levels, while also creating valuable wetland habitats. The most recent phase included the development of a 15-pond wetland system. Pond creation has been delivered in partnership with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West and the Somerset Rivers Authority’s Hills to Levels project.

Looking ahead, Ed plans to take the transition even further. By 2028, the remaining arable operation will come to an end. He has concluded that monoculture cropping – largely destined to feed livestock elsewhere – no longer aligns with the farm’s principles, nor does it make economic sense. Instead, this land will be repurposed for nature restoration, expanding the ecological work already underway.

A key part of Ed’s journey at Chesterblade Hills has been learning to embrace succession and change within the landscape. He recognises that as habitats evolve, so too will the plant and animal species they support, and that this is not something to resist, but to accept as part of a dynamic, living system. For Ed, this perspective is grounded in a broader understanding that our planet is constantly changing and that we have been through five ice ages to get where we are now!

At the same time, he is careful to acknowledge that some habitats are exceptionally rare and irreplaceable. In these cases, thoughtful preservation remains essential to protect what cannot easily be restored. Balancing these two perspectives—allowing space for natural processes while safeguarding what is most vulnerable—has become an important principle guiding his approach.

Diversifying the Farm Business

Alongside environmental change, the farm has also diversified in innovative ways. One of the most ambitious projects has been the transformation of former agricultural buildings into workspaces for local businesses. Today, more than 50 tenants operate from the farm, spanning a wide range of trades – from artists and furniture up-cyclers to guitar makers, campervan converters, and mechanics. Recognising the isolation that can come with running a small business, Ed and Anna have designed the spaces to encourage community, with shared kitchen and social areas, and favourable rates for startups.

This ethos of connection extends into other areas of the farm. The Green Heart Venue is an off-grid activity space which is offered to hire for corporate away days, retreats, workshops, weddings and educational activities A timber-framed barn offers a welcoming indoor space, complemented by an outdoor fire amphitheatre, herb garden, hammocks, a wooded stream and sweeping views.

Nearby, the Wild Camp Ground hosts groups who wish to camp on the farm, with a minimum booking requirement of 10 people and a maximum of 200! The campground is split into two sites, East Side and Wild West, with only one group of guests allowed per site, allowing for exclusive use of the facilities. The Wild Camp Ground can be hired out along with the Green Heart Venue for large events.

Redefining Food Production

Not all responses to Ed’s changes have been positive. Some local residents and fellow farmers have seen his journey as a shift away from farming for food production. For Ed, this reflects a wider misunderstanding of what food production can, and perhaps should, look like. He sees himself as being on a journey towards producing food in a way that works in harmony with nature, rather than against it.

Chesterblade Hills is already beginning to demonstrate what this could look like. The farm is home to a developing food forest—a resilient, low-maintenance system inspired by natural woodland, where edible crops are grown across seven distinct layers. Beyond this, a wide variety of foods can be foraged across the land, including apples, wild garlic, sea buckthorn, nettles, plums, berries and small-leaved lime.

Looking ahead, Ed is exploring the creation of allotments with support from the National Allotment Society. These would provide opportunities for local people to grow their own food on the farm, supported by its increasingly rich and diverse ecosystem—reconnecting communities not only with the land, but with the origins of what they eat.

I first met Ed at the Stockfree Farming stand at the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival in 2025. I was immediately struck by the rarity of his approach, managing such a large farm without livestock, particularly in a region so closely associated with dairy production. After several conversations, Ed joined us as a Stockfree Advisor. Since then, he has supported five farmers on their transition journeys away from animal agriculture.

What stands out most in Ed’s advisory work is his ability to take a genuine whole-farm approach. He begins by identifying the farm’s assets and exploring how they can be strengthened, while also taking the time to understand the farmer and their family, their skills, ambitions and motivations. From there, he helps shape a direction that brings these elements together into a coherent and viable future. Central to this is mindset. Ed often speaks about land management as a privilege, and about the importance of ensuring that change not only improves the farm but also enhances quality of life and enjoyment. When I asked how he developed this perspective, he reflected that it stems both from the influence of his family and from his own journey towards building a life on the farm that is both fulfilling and sustainable.

Succession is another area Ed approaches with care. He encourages open, ongoing conversations within families, ensuring that future plans for the farm are shaped alongside the personal ambitions of those involved. At Chesterblade Hills, he and Anna have structured their roles around their respective interests and strengths: Ed focuses on land management and building renovation, while Anna leads on tenant relationships and the holiday accommodation. They are supported by a small team, with part-time staff helping to manage the land, buildings and campsite.

Together, Ed and Anna make space for regular reflection. Each year, they step back to ask themselves some fundamental questions: why are we doing this? What is our purpose? Are we happy? Should we consider a different path altogether? These are not easy questions, but for Ed they are essential, helping to guide decisions and ensure that the direction of the farm remains aligned with their values and aspirations.

This perspective extends to the next generation. Ed is keen that his children feel free to explore their own paths, without the weight of expectation to take on the farm. His two eldest daughters are pursuing creative interests, one in musical theatre, the other in cello performance, while his two younger daughters are still finding their way. For now, it is the youngest, just four years old, who shows the most enthusiasm for farm life, affectionately earning the title of “the boss”.

Ed’s journey at Chesterblade Hills is not a finished story, but an evolving one—shaped by curiosity, reflection and a willingness to question long-held assumptions about farming, food production and land use. What stands out is not just the scale of change he has undertaken, but the mindset behind it: an openness to learning, a respect for natural processes, and a commitment to creating a farm that works for both people and the planet. In reimagining what his land can offer beyond convention, Ed is helping to demonstrate that a different kind of farming is not only possible but already taking root.